Thursday, August 28, 2008

See, this is the problem with a blog. You post a photo, it makes you think of another photo, you have to go find that photo, crop it, optimize it, possibly scan it, blah, blah, blah. So the lady with the cigar in my previous post made me think of a Junior Kimbrough album cover which made me think of two photos I've had tacked to up in my office for years. Now you get to see them - because I can't restrain myself from making the connections between them all. I'm pretty sure I pulled them both out of CMYK Magazine but can't remember the photographers names. Apologies to them both. Here ya go anyway:

So I'm about to head to the print shop to have some images blown up for a little showing I'm doing next month at Bows and Arrows in Austin, and I just came across these massive enlargements used as headboards and backdrops and artwork at a hotel in Greece. I currently have an early 1900's carnival gameboard as my headboard, but that may have to change after seeing these images:

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

There are lots of bands. There are lots of good bands. There are FEW great bands. There are lots of poster designers. There are lots of good poster designers. There are FEW great poster designers. Christian Helms, Geoff Peveto and the rest of The Decoder Ring Design Concern crew are GREAT poster designers. Good friends of mine, good friends of many great bands, and insanely talented graphic artists, The Decoder Ring churns out the best of the best of the best in the poster art world. These guys cull deep from a sea of vintage, homemade, deep-thinking, fun, and odd graphics to create truly award winning work. Check out these designs and see what you think:

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

So I had a post all loaded up in advance and ready to push out last Friday from San Fran, but my rookie blogger status got the best of me when I accidentally deleted the whole damn thing before posting it. It was a big spiel on Chuck Prophet - one of San Fran's finest musicians - but I'm not gonna write it all again right now and will instead post some pics from the road. In the past few days, I've done about 900 miles on Hwy 101, jumped in the Pacific Ocean at San Louis Obispo, eaten a truck load of wholesome diner food, seen Radiohead, Andrew Bird, Wilco, Kelly Stoltz, etc., seen good friends and former Austinites who now live on Telegraph Hill, and enjoyed any other number of good times. More to come once I get back to Austin. A few pics below:

On the Beach in San Louis Obispo, CAAt Margie's Diner in Paso Robles, CAGrafitti in a bathroom in The Haight, SF

Thursday, August 21, 2008

So, as soon as I start this thing, I pick up and head outta town. I'm jumping on a plane to California in a couple of hours and will be meeting up with friends in LA for a road trip to San Francisco and the celebration of my 31st b-day at the Outside Lands Music Festival. I can't wait to document my drive, and I'm psyched to revisit a couple of my favorite shops in San Fran. One in particular is Aria - a small but perfect little oddity shop on Grant Avenue. Last time I was there I snapped a few pics of the heads in the window. Check it out if you're ever in San Fran:

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Growing up in Northeast Louisiana, western shirts were reserved for wildcatters and cotton field workers, but when I moved to New York (of all places) in 2000, I discovered the style and comfort of the snap western for myself and have been wearing them ever since. Sadly, last Wednesday, the king of "cowboy" style - Jack A. Weil, founder and CEO of Rockmount Ranch Wear - succumbed to old age. He was 107. RIP Papa Jack:

Monday, August 18, 2008

I really wish I was an illustrator. I'm OK with a camera, OK with a pen, OK selling antiques, and OK in some other creative areas, but I have zero skills as an illustrator. The best of these guys (and gals) really make me crazy with how good they are, and Nick Dewar is one of those fellas. Simple, stylish, clean, strong, easy, smart, bold, clever, versatile. Just really fucking good really. Nick Dewar:

Saturday, August 16, 2008

If you came upon one of these journals in your son or daughter's or friend's room, you might at first be alarmed. But hopefully your alarm would turn to awe and then to pride because this stuff is amazing. Only in his early 30s, John Copeland produces evocative work with a loose brush and ragged pen. I'm a fan - and need to see some of these in person. Check out these "journal" entries (and click on them to enlarge):

Alright folks, I'm gonna dedicate my first post to one of my favorite photographers - Bruce Davidson. An American born in 1933, Davidson picked up the camera at the tender of age of 10, met the master Henri Cartier-Bresson in the 50's, documented the American Civil Rights Movement in the '60's, the streets of New York in the '70's, and has been going strong ever since. Here are some of his most powerful images - at least to me: